Being an Asian-American and enjoying prior books by Lauren K Jessen, I was very excited to hear about this release. I was fortunate enough to receive a copy and an audio file of this book and I was beyond excited.

Yin Yang Love Song is about Chryssy and Vin's connection. Chryssy is an herbalist who specializes in healing. Vin is a famous, professional cello player. They meet at an event and are brought together by a fake dating proposal. During their time to get her, they teach and grow from one another. I love the conversations between the two. The way to go from being strangers to learning about one another in a short time is wonderful and yet not over the top.

Thank you for the copies, this is my honest opinion. Please be aware of any trigger warnings, as your mental health is most important.

I love Lauren Kung Jessen. Her stories give me exposure to Chinese culture, while having the fun parts of a romance story. I love the familial aspect of this book, as well as the medicinal part of the main character. It was a good story

I thought this was a fun listen. Chryssy is a serious entrepreneur who encounters “heartbreaker” Vin. Their meet cute was sweet and their fake dating led to an interesting story. I enjoyed both narrator’s. I especially enjoyed the message of examining our beliefs and finding the balance in life. The story also explored herbalism and I thought that was intriguing.
This was my first by this author, but I’ll definitely be checking out others. Thank you to Forever for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was so cute!! Lauren Kung Jessen always writes the most comforting, vibrant romances, and I always love her books! Yin Yang love song was no exception with its swoony romance between Vin and Chryssy and I loved the Aunites! I will say it was really heavy on information about TCM, which I loved learning about! But I would have loved a few more romantic moments between Vin and Chryssy added in. But overall, such a swoony, sweet story! The audiobook narration felt a little choppy at times, but I loved both of the narrators voices.

As a huge fan of Lauren, I felt like I was waiting forever for this book lol And it was so worth the wait. Idk how to explain it. The contemporary fantasy was cool but I also really liked the way she incorporated the Chinese customs like the herbs and acupuncture. This whole series has showed me so much about their customs and beliefs and it’s been exciting to learn about.

So part of the reason I love this series is the things I’ve learned and researched more of. I’m definitely not a huge fan of tea, so I didn’t know any of the things that she was doing or trying when someone was experiencing heartbreak. So of course I went on a Google hunt to figure out all the herbs and what an herbalist did. And it was pretty damn impressive too. And the acupuncture was also interesting too. I’ve been pretty scared of it as well because I just didn’t understand how more pain was supposed to stop more pain? But reading about the specific science of it actually made me look more into it. This is why I love own voices books. They always teach me more about people and customs.

However, the romance in this one was so good! Yeah it was her normal make the hero not believe in the heroine, but somehow this seemed different? Idk it just didn’t seem like it was necessary for him to be SO against it. But watching him change into believing her and loving her was so sweet. The romance itself is pretty tame, but still very sweet nonetheless. I do think I laughed more than swooned tho. And I think this was my only complaint about it. I liked them more as friends I think. Even when it got to the spicy parts, it still felt weird. But idk that’s just me.

This was a sweet romance that I hope isn’t the ending to this series. I hope that there’s more. I know there’s more to learn about this culture and I need more of Jessen’s love stories. I really hope there is more. It’s almost guaranteed to be a lot of fun.

I absolutely adored Lunar Love so I had to check out Laura’s newest book. The fake dating trope was done well but it was a very slow burn. I wanted more banter and happenings like Lunar Love. While this one was ok for me I will still read anything Lauren writes

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! This one was a solid 3 stars for me… I really enjoyed the first half, but by the second half the story felt very repetitive and slow. I just kind of wanted to story to …. End.

I loved the premise of fake dating but it didn’t last long at all! The pacing of the story felt too disjointed and with that, I feel like a lot of their story was lost. I don’t feel like I got to really watch them get to know one another.

I appreciated the emphasis on rest and truly loved both Chryssy and Vin! They were great main characters and I would’ve loved to see more of their chemistry.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for this Audio ARC! 3.5 Stars

This was a cute story, I enjoyed it for the most part. I really enjoyed the characters and watching them grow and learn how to overcome their traumas. My only real complaint is the pacing, one minute we are standing on the island chatting about the fake date they are going to go on, and the next second we are literally standing on top of a building in the middle of the date. There was so much time lost, and so much opportunity to watch the characters get to know each other, but I feel like parts were cut out at times.

This started off as a very intriguing and promising book but unfortunately, it got too repetitive and too slow for me.

I really like the fake dating that started between Chrysanthemum and Vin but it didn’t last long enough for me. The plot of the Hua women being cursed was interesting at first and then it got boring. 🥱 While I also appreciated all the herb and flower information, it just became too much too.

I did like the Chinese representation, which has always been something I’ve enjoyed with the authors past books. I also liked how much focus there was on rest and finding your balance again.

Some favorite moments: the clamming scene at the beach, the acupuncture scene.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange of an honest review. I really also liked the narration!

I was hooked from the VERY first line of this book: “It takes less than two seconds to break a person’s heart.” From there, I was immediately swept away into the love story of Chryssy and Vin. They make a deal to fake date and have no intentions of catching feelings. Boy… were they in for a surprise.

I loved watching this story unfold. Chryssy truly believing she was cursed to never find love was a really tough thing for her to overcome. I loved how into her work she was, and how she truly thrived on helping others. Her gift of seeing people for who they are was pure magic. And Vin!! That secret romantic. I loved him so much and I thought he had such an interesting background.

And of course… all of our side characters but especially the aunties. So much fun. I loved the questions the curse brought up about family legends and lore, and I loved the brotherly dynamics we had between Vin and Leo. There was a lot to unpack in this story and it was a great ride.

This was the first book I have read by Lauren Kung Jessen and now I want more! This story was so moving and sweet. I really enjoyed learning about the Chinese traditions and family curses. The characters of Chrissy and Vin were well balanced with Leo and the Aunties. The love of family really rang true. The narrators of the audiobook (Eunice Wong and Eric Yang) brought the characters to life. I could definitely see this one made into a delightful rom-com.

Read If You Like:
- Fake dating and celebrity romance tropes
- Stories rich in Chinese culture and traditions
- Family dynamics and multigenerational curses
- Heartwarming rom-coms with vibrant characters
- Novels by Helen Hoang and Jasmine Guillory

Chryssy Hua Williams, a Chinese herbalist, co-manages a healing retreat for the broken-hearted alongside her aunties. Despite her initial skepticism about the Hua family curse—believed to doom their love lives—Chryssy's string of nine failed relationships has her reconsidering. Enter Vin Chao, a renowned cellist with a reputation as a heartbreaker. A chance encounter between Chryssy and Vin at a child's birthday party sparks unexpected media buzz, leading Vin's publicist to propose a mutually beneficial arrangement: a fake relationship to boost his concert ticket sales and promote Chryssy's family business. As they navigate this faux romance, genuine chemistry develops, challenging their initial plans and beliefs.

Lauren Kung Jessen masterfully intertwines themes of identity, family, and tradition in this delightful rom-com. The narrative offers a fresh perspective on the fake dating trope, enriched by the inclusion of Chinese cultural elements and the endearing dynamics of Chryssy's aunties. The story delves into the complexities of modern love, the weight of familial expectations, and the journey toward self-discovery. With its engaging plot and well-developed characters, this novel is a must-read for fans of heartfelt romantic comedies.

Thank you for my gifted ARC!

A sweet love story!! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and it piqued my interest in traditional Chinese medicine. The narrators were wonderful.

I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A Chinese herbalist who specializes in herbal teas for healing and a rock cellist find real love while fake dating in Lauren Kung Jessen’s Yin Yang Love Song.

Along the way, the story explores themes of burnout, broken hearts, family, traditions, and healing. 

It’s another cozy love story from Kung Jessen, perfect to read when you want to slow down for a bit and wrap up in a warm blanket with a steaming cup of tea.

While I sometimes find Eunice Wong’s narration to be tense in audiobooks, her tone softens as the book progresses here, capturing Chryssy’s experience well. When I pick up a Lauren Kung Jessen book, I know I’m in for a calm, cozy experience, and Eric Yang’s narration successfully fits that bill.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Hachette Audio. All review opinions are my own.

4 stars.

Lauren Kung Jessen's "Yin Yang Love Song" is excellent! Jessen is the queen of slow-burning romances. What she lacks in open-door spice, she makes up for in yearning and pining and a terrifically emotional bond between her characters. Chryssy and Vin find themselves in a fake-dating scheme that will both benefit them for one reason or another. They both have their respective histories with broken hearts, so they enter into this agreement very cautiously. Eventually over time, their feelings become very, very real. The dynamic between Chryssy and Vin is awesome. They have good conversations and even some banter with each other. I like how they both compliment one another well despite their hardened exteriors because of heartbreak/love/ a generational curse. Chinese medicine and Chinese-American cultural elements also play characters in this story. I feel learned a lot about traditional Chinese medicine and herbs, what is used to help specific ailments, etc. There's not a lot of drama in this story, so it's relatively low stakes. The dual narration from Eunice Wong and Eric Yang is absolutely stellar, one of the best audiobooks I have listened to in quite some time. They bring these characters to life in a fantastic way, complimenting each other well in their back-and-forth story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Kung Jessen, Hachette Audio, and Forever for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette Audio for this audio e-arc of Yin Yang Love Song.

This cute and cozy contemporary romance was exactly what I needed to break up my TBR.

Chryssy is a Traditional Chinese herbalist, working at a family inn specialising in healing heartbreak and is poised to launch their own herbalist brand. Vin is part of a cello-rock duo, with a reputation for being a heart breaker.

I loved the family connections for both Chryssy & Vin, and how it affected their current relationships.
The romance was cute but it didn't have a lot of depth. I would have loved to see their relationship slowly blossom a bit more.

I really appreciated Jessen avoiding the third act break up.
Audiobook narrators Eunice Wong and Eric Yang do a good job of bringing out their sarcastic banter, but at times it did get a bit flat.

3.5 *
Read for:
* slow burn
* not spicy
* fake dating
* dual POV narration

3.5/5

I am truly a huge Lauren fan and I absolutely adore her work; however, this one didn't live up to the expectation of her last books.

I always love how she weaves Chinese mythology throughout and makes it the core focal point of the novel. The whole idea of a cursed line of women with the main . The familial meddling was such a fun aspect to this novel. I loved how specific each woman in Chryssy's family was and I really enjoyed that Lauren spent the time highlighting that while not losing sight of the main relationship between Chryssy and Vin.

I really enjoyed Chryssy's character growth over the course of the novel. She gets hit with some pretty life alternating realizations that directly clash with her believe in love. The way she reacted, gave herself a moment, and then moved on to help the greater good of her family, really made me respect her as a FMC.

I also really liked the Chao Brothers!!! I thought that their dynamic and conflict really heightened the conflict and effortlessly engrained itself into the main plot.

Overall, I truly did like this, but it did fall a little flat for me. (I just love The Red String Theory wayyyy too much; sue me)

Thank you Forever Publishing, Lauren Kung Jessen, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I just read Lunar Love a few weeks ago so when I saw a Lauren Kung Jessen book pop up on NetGalley, I instantly requested it!

And I’m so thankful because I’m now officially a stan. The way Kung Jessen writes is so easy to read yet still so entertaining that you’re just drawn in. Like Lunar Love, I finished Yin Yang Love Song within 24 hours. I love that these are stories that are so like the usual beloved rom coms all over the market (this one including a great fake dating plot) but they’re also jam packed with Chinese traditions and cultural lessons! I think even non Chinese readers can relate to how important and impactful the characters’s culture is to them. Kung Jessen is sharing what’s important and impactful to her in a familiar way that is easy to connect with and oh so enjoyable and entertaining!

Thank you again to the author, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the Audio eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed being back in Lauren Kung Jessen's world! I love how she carefully crafts family dynamics with amazing leading ladies and swoony love interests.

The flower names for the entire family was so charming, and their family business was really interesting.

however.........I hate to say it but as far as fake dating books go, this one was just okay. They gave me pretty strong friend vibes and I think their relationship bloomed nicely however it just all felt veryyyyyyyy friendly instead of romantic. Not my fave by LKJ, but I am certainly still going to pick up her next book!

3 Stars

I was really excited for Yin Yang Love Song—a fake dating romance with Chinese traditions and a supposed family curse? That sounded like such a fun setup. But unfortunately, the characters just didn’t click for me. Chrissy and Bao Vin Chao felt unlikable in a way that made it hard to root for them, and their chemistry was seriously lacking. I kept waiting for a moment where they’d finally convince me they belonged together, but it never happened. The cultural elements and the idea of a retreat center for the brokenhearted were interesting, but the romance itself just didn’t work for me.